COMMERCE, Texas (Interstat) — Texas A&M-Commerce used a dominant second quarter to defeat Texas Southern 76-60 in a nonconference women’s basketball game Monday afternoon at Texas A&M-Commerce Field House. The Lions outscored the Lady Tigers 23-9 in the period to take a 38-22 halftime lead and never trailed again. Texas Southern’s third-quarter rally, led by Daeja Holmes’ 22 points, cut the deficit but got no closer than 10 points. Tiani Ellison powered Texas A&M-Commerce with 21 points and eight rebounds. Cora Horvath added 21 points and five assists. Aaliyah Henderson led Texas Southern with 16 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Attendance was 1,667. Texas A&M-Commerce improved to 4-5. Texas Southern fell to 3-6.

COMMERCE, Texas (Interstat) — A dominant second-quarter surge and a standout performance from Tiani Ellison propelled Texas A&M-Commerce to a 76-60 victory over Texas Southern in a nonconference women’s basketball game Monday afternoon at the Texas A&M-Commerce Field House. The Lions, improving to 4-5 overall, seized control of the contest with a 23-9 advantage in the second period, turning a narrow 15-13 lead after one quarter into a commanding 38-22 halftime cushion. That decisive 10-minute stretch proved to be the most important part of the game, as the home team’s defensive pressure ignited its offense. Texas A&M-Commerce forced seven Texas Southern turnovers in the quarter, converting them into 10 points, while the Lady Tigers managed just three field goals. Ellison, a 6-foot-1 forward from Durant, Oklahoma, was the catalyst and the game’s top star. She finished with a game-high 21 points, eight rebounds and two blocks in 30 minutes, consistently scoring inside and anchoring the Lions’ defense. Her effort helped offset a prolific scoring afternoon from Texas Southern’s backcourt duo. The Lady Tigers, who fell to 3-6, were led by Daeja Holmes’s 22 points and six rebounds. Aaliyah Henderson added a versatile line of 16 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for Texas Southern. The visitors showed life after halftime, outscoring the Lions 24-18 in the third quarter behind 12 points from Holmes to cut the deficit to 56-46, but could not sustain the rally. Texas A&M-Commerce’s offensive balance and efficiency were key. Alongside Ellison, guard Cora Horvath of Oberwart, Austria, matched her with 21 points, adding five rebounds and five assists. Point guard Reza Po orchestrated the attack with 10 points and eight assists. The Lions shot 45.3% from the field and committed only 10 turnovers, which they parlayed into a 20-9 edge in points off turnovers. Texas Southern struggled with ball security, committing 17 turnovers, and shot 40.7% overall. While they won the rebounding battle 36-33 and shot well from the free-throw line, making 10 of 12, the second-quarter drought and the Lions’ consistent scoring proved too much to overcome. The game’s statistical profile underscored the difference. Texas A&M-Commerce posted an offensive rating of 103.1 points per 100 possessions, while Texas Southern managed just 86.1. The Lions also held advantages in assists (14-8), steals (10-6), and points in the paint (34-26). Texas A&M-Commerce, which entered the game having lost two straight, will look to build on the win when it hosts Stephen F. Austin on Dec. 29. Texas Southern, which has now lost four consecutive games, continues a difficult road stretch at Texas-Arlington on Wednesday.

COMMERCE, Texas (Interstat) — Two teams seeking momentum will meet Monday when the Texas Southern Lady Tigers visit the Texas A&M-Commerce Lions in a nonconference women’s basketball matchup. Both teams enter with identical 3-5 records. Texas Southern looks to snap a five-game skid, while the Lions have dropped three of their last four. The Lady Tigers are coming off a 109-40 road loss at West Virginia on Dec. 8. Guard Daeja Holmes leads Texas Southern, averaging 11.9 points per game. She scored 12 points in the loss to the Mountaineers and has been a consistent contributor, reaching double figures in scoring in six consecutive games. Texas A&M-Commerce fell 71-45 at McNeese State on Friday. Guard Reza Po paces the Lions, coming off a 17-point performance in that defeat. Po has shown scoring punch, including a 20-point outing in a 72-47 win at Louisiana-Lafayette on Dec. 2. Texas Southern’s losses during its streak have come against high-major opponents West Virginia, North Texas, Colorado State and Texas, as well as Sun Belt contender Troy. Their three wins came against lower-division opponents Texas A&M International, Wiley and Arlington Baptist. The Lions’ victories have come against Louisiana-Lafayette, Texas-Dallas and UNT Dallas. Their schedule has also featured power conference foe Oklahoma, where they lost 112-59. Monday’s game at the Texas A&M-Commerce Field House represents a chance for both programs to secure a Division I win before holiday breaks. Texas Southern will aim to leverage Holmes’ backcourt production, while the Lions will look to Po to ignite their offense on their home floor. Following this contest, Texas Southern travels to face Texas-Arlington on Wednesday. Texas A&M-Commerce is off until hosting Stephen F. Austin on Dec. 29. Tipoff is set for Monday, Dec. 15, in Commerce.